A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Maryland, Marie land. (Origin and meaning obscure. Occurring only in the passages cited in the phrase golk (= cuckoo) of maryland, of ? fanciful or ? folklore origin. It has been conjectured that the first element is Mare n.1, as if for ‘nightmare-land’ or something of the kind, which is no doubt not impossible.) —a1568 Dunb. Bann. MS. 104 a/51. ?
Quod scho [in accepting her wooer]: … Wylcum my golk of maryland [M. marie land] 15.. King Berdok 14.
He wowit the golk sevin ȝeir of maryland Ib. 20.
He fure our se and land To reveis Mayok the golk of maryland
